| Thomas Butler King | |
| State1: | Georgia |
| District1: | At-large & 1st |
| Term Start1: | March 4, 1839 |
| Term End1: | March 3, 1843 March 4, 1845 – March 3, 1850 |
| Preceded1: | George W. Towns Alexander Stephens |
| Succeeded1: | John B. Lamar Joseph W. Jackson |
| Office2: | Member of the Georgia Senate |
| Term2: | 1832 1834–1835 1837 |
| Birth Date: | August 27, 1800 |
| Birth Place: | Palmer, Massachusetts |
| Death Date: | May 10, 1864 (aged 63) |
| Death Place: | Waresboro, Georgia |
| Restingplace: | Churchyard of Christ Church, Frederica, St. Simons, Georgia |
| Party: | Whig |
| Spouse: | Anna Matilda Page (c. 1800 – 1859) |
| Signature: | Signature of Thomas Butler King (1800–1864).png |
| Children: | John Floyd King |
Thomas Butler King I (August 27, 1800 – May 10, 1864) was an American politician from the state of Georgia.[1] Late in life, King spent ten years in the newly admitted state of California and twice attempted to become a senator from that state.
He was born on August 27, 1800, in Palmer, Massachusetts, to Daniel King and Hannah Lord. He was of English descent, and among his first ancestors coming to America was John King, of Edwardstone, Suffolk, England, who, in 1715, was the first settler on a tract of land in what was then the Colony of Massachusetts. For a generation or more, that tract of land was known as Kingstown. Afterwards, it was called Palmer.[2]
He attended Westfield State University and then studied law under his brother, Henry King in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania State Bar in 1822.
In 1823 he traveled with his brother, Stephen Clay King, to practice law in Waynesville, Georgia.[3]
In 1824, he married Anna Matilda Page (c. 1800 – 1859). They had ten children who survived to adulthood, including a son, John Floyd King. Thomas was elected to the Georgia Senate in 1832 to represent Glynn County, Georgia, and served in that position in 1834, 1835, and again in 1837. He was elected to the US House of Representatives in 1838 to the 26th Congress.
King would attempt to regain his old seat in the Confederate Congress in 1863 against Julian Hartridge. King narrowly lost, receiving 2,909 votes to Hartridge's 3,077 votes and a third candidate named C.H. Hopkins' 766. This likely occurred because of distrust of King by Savannah voters.[4]
King accepted an appointment in California as tax collector for the Port of San Francisco under President Millard Fillmore. King then went to work as a lobbyist for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. He also attempted to become senator from California.
San Francisco's King Street, near the port and major rail yards, is named after him.[5]
King died in Waresboro, Georgia on May 10, 1864. He was buried in the churchyard of Christ Church on St. Simons Island.[3]